Little-known beach resort with more than 300 sunny days has £26 flights & £2 pints

With more than 285 miles of coastline and 300 days of sunshine every year, Albania is home to a hidden gem.

[{"selector":"#anim-bf3376e7-993d-48b2-a464-a5079ea693d5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-99e0797e-745f-4251-99f8-a8d03563e436","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 234.22224%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9b2976cd-2df1-4f8b-822d-6c4903770b30","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-70dee91e-20a3-4c6e-979a-6067dbbbb44e","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-3deg) translate3d(0px, -148.69181%, 0) rotate(3deg)","rotate(-3deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(3deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Saranda is one of the locals' favourite beach destinations, and it's only three hours from the UK.

[{"selector":"#anim-ba37f5f6-df5d-41c4-bdfc-74b1f32cd63f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-96ddf468-de5b-45e1-8e92-cb72542edeaa","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 235.22223%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ecad2e06-4746-4a49-b4e3-bd1693bf29a4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-58c704bc-3e89-402b-9233-5716aef947df","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-357deg) translate3d(0px, -148.69181%, 0) rotate(357deg)","rotate(-357deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(357deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The city of Saranda sits on an open gulf of the Ionian Sea within the Mediterranean Sea, making it an excellent spot for a beach holiday.

[{"selector":"#anim-656a64cb-410f-4c99-8883-54c3fefea043","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5c3042b9-ee31-4c3b-81cb-c6926304fa74","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 192.11477%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-91a2470b-4a44-4073-9fc0-61d892d0432a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3aaa7f33-3ea6-49fa-8bd4-48e85ed280af","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-4deg) translate3d(0px, -146.55114%, 0) rotate(4deg)","rotate(-4deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(4deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

There's also a lot to explore away from the shores. For instance, the Lëkurësi castle is a must-see and offers incredible city views.

[{"selector":"#anim-162a0956-f798-4a23-a485-a0221e850510","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e2fa3f3e-a650-469b-a219-6e93947c7374","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 192.11477%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7bd41822-8e7b-475f-b734-299c10684b6c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1d20a362-c964-4af3-88a5-442909b4c459","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-356deg) translate3d(0px, -145.63371%, 0) rotate(356deg)","rotate(-356deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(356deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

It's also known for its deep blue waters and the remains of the ancient city of Butrint, a Unesco world heritage site.

[{"selector":"#anim-5fc18c77-35dc-457a-aa3f-b5c775911454","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-daac83d1-e7b0-4fbe-b085-16ec31514fba","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 238.22225%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e1cf22c7-f147-4500-8e1a-5051b33847e7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-64f3bb93-fd64-4150-a22b-437535833f4a","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-4deg) translate3d(0px, -148.69181%, 0) rotate(4deg)","rotate(-4deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(4deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Saranda is very cheap for British tourists, with a cup of coffee costing around £1.70, while pints of local beer are just over £2.

[{"selector":"#anim-4084fcaf-5742-4a7a-a08e-8ed1d7525ae5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-133435dd-a98d-4919-a8f3-12d91f79e348","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 192.11477%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ce7f91e8-3586-45f0-bdd1-a4a317396358","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d101454d-7ddd-4ccc-86af-4000c1869042","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-357deg) translate3d(0px, -148.69181%, 0) rotate(357deg)","rotate(-357deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(357deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Direct flights from the UK to Albania operate almost daily, with return fares starting from just £52. Hotels are from £45 a night.

[{"selector":"#anim-8c537eda-396f-4be4-84e5-feccb5245156","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9d4adbc1-89a4-4172-a415-0f223eef5f57","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 192.11477%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-980371dd-9c92-42a3-9867-943c23c54ef0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-81eaf1ab-511d-4015-911b-8d9f8012cbfb","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-4deg) translate3d(0px, -148.69181%, 0) rotate(4deg)","rotate(-4deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(4deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]